Nichols - World History China’s Dynasties Nichols - World History

Chinese Dynasty Pronunciation Shang “shang” Zhou “joe” Qin “chin” Han “hahn”

Dynasty Map

Ancient Chinese Civilization Chinese civilization along the Huang He (Yellow River) developed in relative isolation, save for some overland trading with India and the Middle East. By around 1500 B.C.E. a line of kings called the Shang ruled over the Huang He valley. They began the dynastic cycle that would endure until the 20th century.

Shang Dynasty Silk Worms First recorded Dynasty Ruled by a king First Chinese cities, center of court life “Anyang” was its capital Villages organized by clans, not nuclear families. Cast bronze, created silk Developed writing. Ideas through pictographs. Thousands of characters. Honored ancestors, through worship and used oracle bones Shang tyrant emperor overthrown by Zhou, who ushered in the 2nd dynasty. Silk Worms

Shang Artifacts Bronze Oracle Bone Spoke Wheel Jade Ritual Vessel

Dynastic Cycle Dynastic cycle is a process of birth and death of dynasties. Dynasty=family of kings. 3 Dynasties of Classical China: Zhou, Qin, and Han. The ones after these 3 were known as the Post Classical China

Zhou (Chou-”Joe”) Dynasty Zhou rulers claimed direct links to the Shang rulers. Also said that heaven had transferred its mandate to rule China to the Zhou emperors- Mandate of Heaven. Mandate of Heaven remained a key justification for Chinese imperial rule in all subsequent dynasties (They believed it was their Divine Right). Promoted unity via a standard spoken language (Mandarin Chinese). Largest single group of people speaking the same language in the world at this time.

Zhou (Chou-”Joe”) Dynasty Longest lasting Chinese Dynasty. First period of territorial expansion (complicated problems of central rule). Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism were 3 main philosophies Created system of currency (First coins) Known for iron weapons, plows, hydraulics, and Kites (Scare enemy)

Zhou Coins - bronze

Confucius As a wondering scholar-philosopher in Zhou China, Kung Fuzi (Confucius) undertook a quest to become chief advisor to a ruler who possessed the wisdom to restore centralized control, peace, and order. Though he never fulfilled this goal in his lifetime, his students preserved, spread, and debated his teachings after his death, and compiled his teachings in the Analects. (How to Book) His social and political teachings formed the basis for many of China’s ideas today.

Confucius 551 – 479 B.C.E. Became a teacher and editor of books.

Confucianism 101 Advocated rule by highly educated, exclusively male elite . Began as an ethical rather than religious system. Created norms for all aspects of Chinese life, from familial relationships, respect for elders, ancestors, and male authority. Created norms for etiquette of rulers and scholar bureaucrats (The elite). Influenced art, music, calligraphy (Artistic Writing) Formed basis of Chinese philosophical and religious beliefs for more than 2000 years.

Confucianism waxed and waned during subsequent dynasties, but continues to influence Chinese culture today. Also exerted influence on other Asian societies incl Japan and Korea.

Confucian Temple Complex

Confucius' Tomb

Dao Created by Laozi Early Chinese philosophy stressed the basic harmony of nature: every feature is balanced by an opposite (yin and yang). For hot there is cold, for male, female. Forms basis for Daoism, a philosophy by which a individual seeks a way, called Dao, to relate to this harmony, avoiding excess and appreciating balance of opposites.

Legalism Created by Han Fei Zi Legalism is a Classical Chinese philosophy that emphasizes the need for order above all other human concerns.

Zhou (Chou) Dynasty The breakdown of the Zhou dynasty’s ability to control its peasants and slaves led to a long period of political conflict (Land-owning aristocrats, wealthy, created their own power base and disregarded the central govt.) Internal conflicts left China vulnerable to outside invaders.

Qin (Chin) Dynasty By 221 BCE, warrior Shi Huangdi brought an end to the years of civil war and developed the Qin Dynasty. Shi Huangdi destroyed or banished all his rivals and was seen as a harsh man Self appointed title Qin Shi Huangdi , meaning First Emperor. The name Qin conferred on the whole country its name of China. Brutal yet effective. Organized China into large provinces ruled by bureaucrats.

Qin Dynasty For defense, built first Great Wall (Ming built other part later), extending 3000+ miles. Largest construction project in human history. Adopted Legalism: only way to achieve order was to pass strict laws and impose harsh punishments. (Hanfeizi) Ordered census, standardized currency, weights measurements, laws, and unified written script throughout the realm. Banned Confucianism, burned books. Attacks on intellectuals and high taxes made him fiercely unpopular.

Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi appointed officials from non-aristocratic (poor) groups, so that they would not dare to develop their own independent bases of power. Shi Huangdi looked for potions to make him immortal, but the Qin Dynasty ended shortly after his death.

Han (202 BCE - 221 CE) After Shi Huangdi’s death, massive peasant revolts broke out. Two peasants led a revolt against Qin oppression, toppling the dynasty, giving rise to the Han dynasty. Largest of the dynasties. Legalism replaced by Confucianism Introduced civil service examination (process of selecting govt officials based on merit rather than noble birth). Ltd. power of emperor (checks & balances) Expanded Chinese territory into Korea, Indochina, and central Asia. Silk Roads developed, opens trade

Han (202 BCE - 221 CE) Peace brought great prosperity. They erected shrines to Confucius, and the idea was established as official state of philosophy. Buddhism introduced through trade Paper invented Great increase in population Govt sponsored public works projects like complex irrigation & canal systems Decline Nomadic raiders Corruption, weak leaders

End of the Classical Era Han dynasty overturned by a nomadic tribe, the Huns Warlords control china - no centralized gov’t Non-Chinese nomads control much of China Buddhism becomes popular - Confucianism failed (Invaders like Huns might topple a dynasty, but they couldn’t devise a better system to run the country, so the system & its bureaucratic administrators normally endured).

Classical vs. Post Classical China It took several hundred years before China re-emerged as a leading civilization and experienced a “Golden Age” better than the Han’s. China was not sailing out in search of trade. In the fifteenth century all the world coveted Chinese silks and porcelain China had no need to seek out customers China's customers came to them. Confucius saw merchants and other middlemen as parasites (Low lives), profiting on the work of the farmers and artisans who actually produced trade goods.

Post Classical China